JLPT N5 vocabulary list — 228 words from real graded stories

This is a JLPT N5 vocabulary list with a difference: every one of its 228 words appears in a real, level-graded Japanese story you can listen to. Each row gives the word, its reading in kana, the romaji, and the English meaning — and links to the story where you can hear it used in context.

One honest note most lists skip: the JLPT has not published official vocabulary lists since 2010, so every N5 list you will find — including this one — is an estimate. Ours is built from the beginner tier of our story corpus, tagged N5 by frequency-and-level estimation. The upside of that approach: nothing here is list-filler; these are words you will actually meet in beginner Japanese.

• 雨あめ · ame

  rain

  hear it in a real story

• アニメanime

  anime

  hear it in a real story

• アプリapuri

  app

  hear it in a real story

• 洗うあらう · arau

  wash, to

  hear it in a real story

• あるaru

  to exist, to be, to have

  hear it in a real story

• 歩くあるく · aruku

  to walk

  hear it in a real story

• 朝あさ · asa

  morning

  hear it in a real story

• 朝ご飯あさごはん · asagohan

  breakfast

  hear it in a real story

• 明日あした · ashita

  tomorrow

  hear it in a real story

• 遊ぶあそぶ · asobu

  to play

  hear it in a real story

• 新しいあたらしい · atarashii

  new

  hear it in a real story

• 後あと · ato

  after

  hear it in a real story

• 暑いあつい · atsui

  hot (weather)

  hear it in a real story

• 熱いあつい · atsui

  hot (to the touch)

  hear it in a real story

• 晩ばん · ban

  evening, night

  hear it in a real story

• 晩ご飯ばんごはん · bangohan

  dinner; evening meal

  hear it in a real story

• バスbasu

  bus

  hear it in a real story

• ベッドbeddo

  bed

  hear it in a real story

• 勉強するべんきょうする · benkyō suru

  to study

  hear it in a real story

• 便利べんり · benri

  convenient

  hear it in a real story

• 父ちち · chichi

  father (my)

  hear it in a real story

• 小さいちいさい · chiisai

  small

  hear it in a real story

• 近いちかい · chikai

  near, close

  hear it in a real story

• ちょっとchotto

  a little, a bit

  hear it in a real story

• 電車でんしゃ · densha

  train

  hear it in a real story

• 電話でんわ · denwa

  phone call / telephone

  hear it in a real story

• 電話するでんわする · denwa suru

  call (phone), to

  hear it in a real story

• デパートdepāto

  department store

  hear it in a real story

• 出るでる · deru

  to come out, to exit

  hear it in a real story

• ドアdoa

  door

  hear it in a real story

• 土曜日どようび · doyōbi

  Saturday

  hear it in a real story

• どうdō

  how

  hear it in a real story

• 映画えいが · eiga

  movie

  hear it in a real story

• 英語えいご · eigo

  English (language)

  hear it in a real story

• 駅えき · eki

  station

  hear it in a real story

• 服ふく · fuku

  clothes

  hear it in a real story

• 分ふん · fun

  minute

  hear it in a real story

• 降るふる · furu

  to fall (rain, snow)

  hear it in a real story

• 古いふるい · furui

  old

  hear it in a real story

• 冬ふゆ · fuyu

  winter

  hear it in a real story

• 学校がっこう · gakkō

  school

  hear it in a real story

• 学生がくせい · gakusei

  student

  hear it in a real story

• 元気げんき · genki

  energy, vigor

  hear it in a real story

• 銀行ぎんこう · ginkō

  bank

  hear it in a real story

• ご飯ごはん · gohan

  cooked rice

  hear it in a real story

• 牛乳ぎゅうにゅう · gyūnyū

  milk

  hear it in a real story

• ゲームgēmu

  video game

  hear it in a real story

• 母はは · haha

  mother (my)

  hear it in a real story

• 入るはいる · hairu

  to enter, to be contained

  hear it in a real story

• 始まるはじまる · hajimaru

  to begin, to start

  hear it in a real story

• 半はん · han

  half

  hear it in a real story

• 花はな · hana

  flower

  hear it in a real story

• 話すはなす · hanasu

  to speak, to talk

  hear it in a real story

• 春はる · haru

  spring

  hear it in a real story

• 走るはしる · hashiru

  to run

  hear it in a real story

• 働くはたらく · hataraku

  works (at)

  hear it in a real story

• 早いはやい · hayai

  early

  hear it in a real story

• 速いはやい · hayai

  fast

  hear it in a real story

• 部屋へや · heya

  room

  hear it in a real story

• 日ひ · hi

  day

  hear it in a real story

• 左ひだり · hidari

  left

  hear it in a real story

• 昼ひる · hiru

  daytime, noon

  hear it in a real story

• 昼ご飯ひるごはん · hirugohan

  lunch

  hear it in a real story

• 人ひと · hito

  person

  hear it in a real story

• 本ほん · hon

  book

  hear it in a real story

• 欲しいほしい · hoshii

  want (something)

  hear it in a real story

• 一番いちばん · ichiban

  the most, best

  hear it in a real story

• 家いえ · ie

  house, home

  hear it in a real story

• いいii

  good

  hear it in a real story

• 行くいく · iku

  to go

  hear it in a real story

• 今いま · ima

  now

  hear it in a real story

• 妹いもうと · imōto

  younger sister

  hear it in a real story

• 犬いぬ · inu

  dog

  hear it in a real story

• いるiru

  to be, to exist

  hear it in a real story

• 忙しいいそがしい · isogashii

  busy

  hear it in a real story

• 一緒にいっしょに · issho ni

  together

  hear it in a real story

• 椅子いす · isu

  chair

  hear it in a real story

• 言ういう · iu

  to say

  hear it in a real story

• 時じ · ji

  o'clock; time

  hear it in a real story

• 時間じかん · jikan

  time / hour

  hear it in a real story

• 上手じょうず · jōzu

  skilled at / good at

  hear it in a real story

• かばんkaban

  bag

  hear it in a real story

• 帰るかえる · kaeru

  to return, to go back

  hear it in a real story

• 買い物かいもの · kaimono

  grocery shopping

  hear it in a real story

• 会社かいしゃ · kaisha

  company

  hear it in a real story

• 書くかく · kaku

  to write

  hear it in a real story

• カメラkamera

  camera

  hear it in a real story

• 紙かみ · kami

  paper

  hear it in a real story

• 顔かお · kao

  face

  hear it in a real story

• からkara

  because

  hear it in a real story

• 買うかう · kau

  to buy

  hear it in a real story

• 風かぜ · kaze

  wind

  hear it in a real story

• 家族かぞく · kazoku

  family

  hear it in a real story

• 今朝けさ · kesa

  this morning

  hear it in a real story

• 木き · ki

  tree

  hear it in a real story

• 聞くきく · kiku

  to listen, hear

  hear it in a real story

• 昨日きのう · kinō

  yesterday

  hear it in a real story

• 切符きっぷ · kippu

  paper ticket

  hear it in a real story

• きれいkirei

  pretty / beautiful / clean

  hear it in a real story

• 切るきる · kiru

  to cut; to chop

  hear it in a real story

• 着るきる · kiru

  to put on / wear (garment)

  hear it in a real story

• 子供こども · kodomo

  child

  hear it in a real story

• 声こえ · koe

  voice

  hear it in a real story

• ここkoko

  here / this place

  hear it in a real story

• 今晩こんばん · konban

  tonight

  hear it in a real story

• コンビニkonbini

  convenience store

  hear it in a real story

• 今年ことし · kotoshi

  this year

  hear it in a real story

• 果物くだもの · kudamono

  fruit

  hear it in a real story

• 国くに · kuni

  country

  hear it in a real story

• 来るくる · kuru

  to come

  hear it in a real story

• 靴くつ · kutsu

  shoes

  hear it in a real story

• 去年きょねん · kyonen

  last year

  hear it in a real story

• 今日きょう · kyō

  today

  hear it in a real story

• カードkādo

  card

  hear it in a real story

• 公園こうえん · kōen

  park

  hear it in a real story

• コーヒーkōhī

  coffee

  hear it in a real story

• 町まち · machi

  town

  hear it in a real story

• まだmada

  still, not yet

  hear it in a real story

• 窓まど · mado

  window

  hear it in a real story

• 曲がるまがる · magaru

  to turn

  hear it in a real story

• 毎日まいにち · mainichi

  every day

  hear it in a real story

• マンガmanga

  manga (comic)

  hear it in a real story

• 真っ直ぐまっすぐ · massugu

  straight ahead

  hear it in a real story

• またmata

  again, also

  hear it in a real story

• 待つまつ · matsu

  to wait

  hear it in a real story

• 道みち · michi

  road, way

  hear it in a real story

• 右みぎ · migi

  right

  hear it in a real story

• みんなminna

  everyone

  hear it in a real story

• 見るみる · miru

  to see, look

  hear it in a real story

• 店みせ · mise

  shop, store

  hear it in a real story

• 水みず · mizu

  water

  hear it in a real story

• 物もの · mono

  thing; object

  hear it in a real story

• 持つもつ · motsu

  to hold, to have

  hear it in a real story

• もっとmotto

  more

  hear it in a real story

• 難しいむずかしい · muzukashii

  difficult

  hear it in a real story

• メールmēru

  email

  hear it in a real story

• もうmō

  already

  hear it in a real story

• 長いながい · nagai

  long

  hear it in a real story

• 中なか · naka

  inside

  hear it in a real story

• 七なな · nana

  seven

  hear it in a real story

• なるnaru

  to become

  hear it in a real story

• 夏なつ · natsu

  summer

  hear it in a real story

• 猫ねこ · neko

  cat

  hear it in a real story

• 寝るねる · neru

  to sleep

  hear it in a real story

• ネットnetto

  internet, net

  hear it in a real story

• 日曜日にちようび · nichiyōbi

  Sunday

  hear it in a real story

• 肉にく · niku

  meat

  hear it in a real story

• 飲み物のみもの · nomimono

  beverage / drink

  hear it in a real story

• 飲むのむ · nomu

  to drink

  hear it in a real story

• 乗るのる · noru

  to ride / take (transport)

  hear it in a real story

• お弁当おべんとう · obentō

  bento / packed lunch

  hear it in a real story

• お茶おちゃ · ocha

  tea

  hear it in a real story

• 美味しいおいしい · oishii

  delicious

  hear it in a real story

• お金おかね · okane

  money

  hear it in a real story

• お菓子おかし · okashi

  snack / confectionery

  hear it in a real story

• 起きるおきる · okiru

  to get up, to wake up

  hear it in a real story

• 重いおもい · omoi

  heavy

  hear it in a real story

• 面白いおもしろい · omoshiroi

  interesting / funny

  hear it in a real story

• 音楽おんがく · ongaku

  music

  hear it in a real story

• おにぎりonigiri

  rice ball

  hear it in a real story

• 遅いおそい · osoi

  slow, late

  hear it in a real story

• 弟おとうと · otōto

  younger brother

  hear it in a real story

• 終わるおわる · owaru

  to end

  hear it in a real story

• パンpan

  bread

  hear it in a real story

• パソコンpasokon

  computer

  hear it in a real story

• 来年らいねん · rainen

  next year

  hear it in a real story

• 来週らいしゅう · raishū

  next week

  hear it in a real story

• レストランresutoran

  restaurant

  hear it in a real story

• 料理りょうり · ryōri

  cooking; cuisine; dish

  hear it in a real story

• ラーメンrāmen

  ramen

  hear it in a real story

• 魚さかな · sakana

  fish

  hear it in a real story

• 寒いさむい · samui

  cold

  hear it in a real story

• 散歩するさんぽする · sanpo suru

  to take a walk

  hear it in a real story

• 先月せんげつ · sengetsu

  last month

  hear it in a real story

• 先週せんしゅう · senshū

  last week

  hear it in a real story

• 写真しゃしん · shashin

  photo

  hear it in a real story

• 仕事しごと · shigoto

  job; work

  hear it in a real story

• 下した · shita

  under, below

  hear it in a real story

• 静かしずか · shizuka

  quiet

  hear it in a real story

• 外そと · soto

  outside

  hear it in a real story

• すぐにsugu ni

  right away

  hear it in a real story

• 好きすき · suki

  fond of, like

  hear it in a real story

• 少しすこし · sukoshi

  a little

  hear it in a real story

• スマホsumaho

  smartphone

  hear it in a real story

• すみませんsumimasen

  excuse me (to get attention)

  hear it in a real story

• 住むすむ · sumu

  to live, to reside

  hear it in a real story

• スポーツsupōtsu

  sport

  hear it in a real story

• するsuru

  to do

  hear it in a real story

• 寿司すし · sushi

  sushi

  hear it in a real story

• 掃除するそうじする · sōji suru

  to clean

  hear it in a real story

• スープsūpu

  soup

  hear it in a real story

• スーパーsūpā

  supermarket

  hear it in a real story

• 食べ物たべもの · tabemono

  food

  hear it in a real story

• 食べるたべる · taberu

  to eat

  hear it in a real story

• 高いたかい · takai

  high, expensive

  hear it in a real story

• たくさんtakusan

  a lot, many

  hear it in a real story

• 卵たまご · tamago

  egg

  hear it in a real story

• 楽しいたのしい · tanoshii

  fun, enjoyable

  hear it in a real story

• 立つたつ · tatsu

  to stand

  hear it in a real story

• 天気てんき · tenki

  weather

  hear it in a real story

• テレビterebi

  television

  hear it in a real story

• 時計とけい · tokei

  clock, watch

  hear it in a real story

• 時々ときどき · tokidoki

  sometimes

  hear it in a real story

• 止まるとまる · tomaru

  to stop

  hear it in a real story

• 友達ともだち · tomodachi

  friend

  hear it in a real story

• 隣となり · tonari

  next to / neighbor

  hear it in a real story

• 年とし · toshi

  year

  hear it in a real story

• とてもtotemo

  very

  hear it in a real story

• 使うつかう · tsukau

  to use

  hear it in a real story

• 机つくえ · tsukue

  desk

  hear it in a real story

• 作るつくる · tsukuru

  to make; to cook

  hear it in a real story

• 強いつよい · tsuyoi

  strong

  hear it in a real story

• 遠いとおい · tōi

  far / distant

  hear it in a real story

• うどんudon

  udon (noodles)

  hear it in a real story

• 上うえ · ue

  top, above

  hear it in a real story

• 歌うた · uta

  song

  hear it in a real story

• 歌ううたう · utau

  to sing

  hear it in a real story

• 悪いわるい · warui

  bad

  hear it in a real story

• 私わたし · watashi

  I / me

  hear it in a real story

• 山やま · yama

  mountain

  hear it in a real story

• 野菜やさい · yasai

  vegetables

  hear it in a real story

• 安いやすい · yasui

  cheap

  hear it in a real story

• 休むやすむ · yasumu

  to rest

  hear it in a real story

• よくyoku

  often

  hear it in a real story

• 読むよむ · yomu

  to read

  hear it in a real story

• 夜よる · yoru

  night / evening

  hear it in a real story

• 多いおおい · ōi

  many, numerous

  hear it in a real story

• 大きいおおきい · ōkii

  big / large

  hear it in a real story

Flashcards alone plateau fast, because a word memorized in isolation has nothing to stick to. The pattern that works is the loop: meet the word inside a story you mostly understand, notice what it does there, then let spaced repetition keep it warm. Comprehensible input supplies the meeting; Anki supplies the keeping.

That is why every word in this list links to a story. When you learn 友達 (tomodachi) from a story about friends meeting after school, the word arrives with a scene attached — and scenes are what memory is made of.

N5 vocabulary is the fastest lever, because listening comprehension at the beginner level is mostly a vocabulary problem. Kanji recognition rides along naturally as you read the transcripts — each word in our stories shows its kanji form with furigana-style readings, so you absorb the N5 kanji in context rather than drilling them as isolated characters.

Grammar works the same way in LingoTide: the beginner stories surface core N5 patterns (は/が, です/ます, particles, basic verb forms) inside sentences, with grammar notes exactly where each pattern occurs.

The list is generated from our Japanese story corpus: words whose frequency-and-level estimation lands at N5, cross-referenced against the stories' vocabulary layers so each entry carries its source story. The table, the Anki deck, and the in-story glosses all come from the same data — they never drift apart.